Effects of vitamin E in a glucocorticoid induced cataract model in chicken embryos

We investigated the antioxidant effects of vitamin E on a glucocorticoid (GC) induced model of cataracts in chick embryos. We used 70 fertilized eggs divided into seven groups as follows: phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group, olive oil treatment (OO) group, hydrocortisone treatment (HC) group, olive oil and hydrocortisone treatment (OO + HC) group, 50 mg/kg vitamin E and hydrocortisone treatment (HC + VE (50)) group, 25 mg/kg vitamin E and hydrocortisone treatment (HC + VE (25)) group and 15 mg/kg vitamin E and hydrocortisone treatment (HC + VE (15)) group. On day 17, chick embryos were removed from the eggs and lens and liver tissues were excised. Cataract formation was evaluated and total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured in lens and liver tissues; MDA was measured only in liver. The lenses in the HC + VE (50) group exhibited significantly higher levels of GPx and TAS, and lower levels of TOS than for HC and OO + HC groups. The livers of the HC + VE (50) group exhibited significantly higher levels of GPx and lower levels of MDA than for the HC and OO + HC groups. The HC + VE (50) group lenses were evaluated as grade 1, because the nuclei were completely free of cataracts, likely due to the antioxidative effect of high dose VE. VE is an effective antioxidant agent that exhibits a dose-response effect, for ameliorating the negative effects of GCs.

The effect of diclofenac sodium on neural tube development in the early stage of chick embryos

BACKGROUND

Neural tube defects are congenital malformations of the central nervous system. Genetic predisposition and some environmental factors play an important role in the development of neural tube defects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of diclofenac sodium on the neural tube development in a chick embryo model that corresponds to the first month of vertebral deve- lopment in mammals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy-five fertile, specific pathogen-free eggs were incubated for 28 h and were divided into five groups of 15 eggs each. Diclofenac sodium was administered via the sub-blastodermic route at this stage. Incubation was continued till the end of the 48th h. All eggs were then opened and embryos were dissected from embryonic membranes and evaluated morphologically and histopathologically.

RESULTS

It was determined that the use of increasing doses of diclofenac sodium led to defects of midline closure in early chicken embryos. There were statistically significant differences in neural tube positions (open or close) among the groups. In addition; crown-rump length, somite number were significantly decreased in high dose experimental groups compared with control group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that development of neurons is affected in chi- cken embryos after administration of diclofenac sodium. The exact teratogenic mechanism of diclofenac sodium is not clear; therefore it should be investigated.

Effects of different forms of chitosan on intercellular junctions of mouse fibroblasts in vitro

Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide that has many biomedical applications. We compared the effects of chitosan, in both solution and membranous form, on intercellular adhesion of Swiss 3T3 mouse fibroblasts. Cells were grown as spheroidal cell cultures. Some control cell spheroids were cultured without chitosan and two experimental groups were cultured with chitosan. Chitosan in solution was used for one experimental group and chitosan in membranous form was used for the other. For each group, intercellular adhesion was investigated on days 5 and 10 of culture. Transmission electron microscopy revealed well-defined cellular projections that were more prominent in cells exposed to either membranous or solution forms of chitosan than to the chitosan-free control. Immunocytochemical staining of ICAM-1 and e-cadherin was used to determine the development of intercellular junctions. Compared to the weakly stained control, strong reactions were observed in both chitosan exposed groups at both 5 and 10 days. Cells were treated with 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and incubated with anti-BrdU primary antibody to assess proliferation. Both the solution and membranous forms of chitosan increased proliferation at both 5 and 10 days. Cellular viability was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). The MTT assay indicated high cell viability; maximum viability was obtained with the solution form of chitosan at day 5. Chitosan exposure increased the number of intercellular junctions and showed a significant proliferative effect on 3T3 mouse fibroblasts.

Cancer stem cell differentiation: TGFβ1 and versican may trigger molecules for the organization of tumor spheroids

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have the ability to self-renew similar to normal stem cells. This process is linked with metastasis and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In the present study, we constructed an in vitro differentiation model for CSCs. CSCs isolated and proliferated for one passage were maintained as monolayers or spheroid-forming cells with serum included media for differentiation process. Differentiation of adhesion molecules and cellular ultrastructural properties were investigated and compared in both monolayer and spheroid cultures. CD133+/CD44+ cancer-initiating cells were isolated from DU-145 human prostate cancer cell line monolayer cultures and propagated as tumor spheroids and compared with the remaining heterogeneous cancer cell bulk population. Microarray-based gene expression analysis was applied to determine genes with differential expression and protein expression levels of candidates were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Electron microscopy showed detailed analysis of morphology. TGFβ1 was found to be significantly upregulated in monolayer CSCs. High expression levels of VCAN, COL7A1, ITGβ3, MMP16, RPL13A, COL4A2 and TIMP1 and low expression levels of THBS1, MMP1 and MMP14 were detected when CSCs were maintained as serum-grown prostate CSC spheroids. Immunohistochemistry supported increased immunoreactivity of TGFβ1 in monolayer cultures and VCAN in spheroids. CSCs were found to possess multipotential differentiation capabilities through upregulation and/or downregulation of their markers. TGFβ1 is a triggering molecule, it stimulates versican, Col7A1, ITGβ3 and, most importantly, the upregulation of versican was only detected in CSCs. Our data support a model where CSCs must be engaged by one or more signaling cascades to differentiate and initiate tumor formation. This mechanism occurs with intracellular and extracellular signals and it is possible that CSCc themselves may be a source for extracellular signaling. These molecules functioning in tumor progression and differentiation may help develop targeted therapy.

Hepatic progenitor cell inhibition during embryonic period with high dose verapamil; liable joint to the cancer therapy

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been observed to share certain characteristics with normal stem cells. It was an important argument for cancer therapy and a successful progenitor inhibition could show us targeted cell type for a novel strategy. In this study, we aimed to constitute an inhibition in different stages of hepatic stem/progenitor cells (HPCs) with verapamil. Expression patterns of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), c-kit (CD117) and p-glycoprotein were investigated in developing mouse on the embryonic day (E) 15, E18 and E21 to characterize early and late stages of HPCs. Proliferation inhibition with 5-Bromo-2-Deoxyuridin (BrdU) incorporation and maturation inhibition with PAS staining results were supported by morphometrical analysis during these periods. AFP, c-kit and p-glycoprotein immunoreactivity increased especially in E15 but decreased in E18 and E21 of the control groups during embryonic development. Verapamil treatment effected particularly E15 cells and immunoexpression of HPCs significantly decreased. Proliferation inhibition was observed in all embryonic days of mouse with verapamil and this drug inhibited not only maturation of HPCs in E18 and E21 embryos, but also decreased HPC number in the same embryonic period. According to our results, we estimated that similar to the early and late progenitor stages of HPCs, CSCc can also be in different stages in a heterogenic tumour bulk and the difficulty of CSC inhibition could be the main mechanism of tumour relapses. In this study, HPCs inhibition by verapamil in E15 was not observed in E18 and E21. As similar, CSCs treatments targeting different stages may be impotent to cells in tumour initiating cell stage. We can speculate that ineffectiveness of CSC-specific therapies may be attributed to the highly selective specificity of the treatment (Fig. 6, Ref. 28).

Single dose epidural morphine instead of patient-controlled epidural analgesia in the second day of cesarean section; an easy method for the pain relief of a new mother

PURPOSE

Pain management has a particular importance after Cesarean section. This study was undertaken in order to document the efficacy and side-effects of epidural morphine instead of patient-controlled analgesia technique used for the control of post-cesarean pain during postoperative 24-48 hours.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was performed as a retrospective review of patient charts who had received combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia. Post-cesarean analgesia was performed with epidural technique either by using (Group 1) patient-controlled epidural analgesia for 48 hours, or (Group 2) patient-controlled epidural analgesia for the first 24 hours and then single dose of 3 mg epidural morphine for the second 24 hours.

RESULTS

Incidences of side-effects were similar in both groups. None of the patients experienced respiratory depression. Additional analgesia was used on an as-required basis in nine of 39 (23%) patients in Group 1 and six of 39 (13%) in Group 2.

CONCLUSION

Small doses of epidural morphine provides up to 24 hours of pain relief from a single injection and could obviate the need for an indwelling epidural catheter on the second day of postcesarean section, thus reducing the potential for catheter-related complications.

The effect of COX-2 inhibitor, nimesulide, on angiogenetic factors in primary endometrial carcinoma cell culture

Angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels from preexisting capillaries, is essential for the development, growth and advancement of solid tumours. Angiogenesis is enhanced by prostaglandins (PGs) that are synthesised by the catalysis of cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) from arachidonic acid. COX-2 is upregulated in a variety of malignancies and favours the growth of malignant cells by stimulating proliferation and angiogenesis. The aim of this study is to investigate the angiogenetic process by determining the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and interleukin (IL)-8 in endometrial cancer cells and to study the effect of nimesulide, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, on these mediators using cell culture. Endometrial tissue specimens were obtained from subjects with endometrial cancer and intramural leiomyoma. Cells were incubated with either 10 or 50 microM nimesulide for 24 h. VEGF, MCP-1 and IL-8 concentrations were determined by sandwich quantitative enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). VEGF concentration was significantly higher in cancer cells than normal endometrial cells. VEGF was decreased with 10 microM nimesulide in cancer cells whereas it remained unaltered in normal cells. Both MCP-1 and IL-8 concentrations were lower in cancer cells than normal cells. MCP-1 levels were decreased with both doses of nimesulide in normal cells, whereas IL-8 levels were significantly affected only by 50 microM of nimesulide. These results suggest that COX-2 inhibitors may be effective in the treatment of endometrial cancer via suppression of angiogenesis.

Epidural magnesium reduces postoperative analgesic requirement

BACKGROUND

Magnesium has antinociceptive effects in animal and human models of pain. Our hypothesis was that the addition of magnesium to postoperative epidural infusion of fentanyl may decrease the need for fentanyl.

METHODS

Fifty patients undergoing hip surgery were enrolled to receive either fentanyl (Group F) or fentanyl plus magnesium sulphate (Group FM) for 24 h for epidural analgesia. All patients were equipped with a patient-controlled epidural analgesia device and the initial settings of a demand bolus dose of fentanyl 25 microg. In Group FM, patients received 50 mg magnesium sulphate epidurally as an initial bolus dose followed by a continuous infusion of 100 mg day(-1). Ventilatory frequency, heart rate, blood pressure, pain assessment using a visual analogue scale (VAS), sedation scores and fentanyl consumption were recorded in the postoperative period.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between groups in the time to first analgesic requirement. Compared with Group F, patients in Group FM received smaller doses of epidural fentanyl (P < 0.05). The cumulative fentanyl consumption in 24 h was 437 (SD110) microg in Group F and 328 (121) microg in Group FM (P < 0.05). Patients in Group F showed a higher VAS score in the first hour of the postoperative period (P < 0.05). The groups were similar with respect to haemodynamic and respiratory variables, sedation, pruritus, and nausea.

CONCLUSION

Co-administration of magnesium for postoperative epidural analgesia results in a reduction in fentanyl consumption without any side-effects.

Chemotherapy influences inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity on 3D breast cancer cell line

Multicellular tumor spheroids (MTS) are three-dimensional structural forms of tumors grown in vitro in the laboratory. In this study, the aim was to determine the regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expressions on MTS in response to treatment with the commonly used anti-cancer drugs Doxorubicin and Docetaxel. The spheroids were generated using the "liquid overlay" technique. The distribution of both iNOS and eNOS was detected using indirect immunohistochemistry, while the expression of both iNOS and eNOS was measured using Western blots. Additionally, S-phase analysis using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was done on the MTS after treatment with doxorubicin, docetaxel, and a combination of the two. The Griess method was used to measure nitric oxide (NO) production in the cells. An increase in iNOS immunoreactivity and a decrease in eNOS immunoreactivity were observed after doxorubicin treatment, when compared with the other groups. Furthermore, upregulation of iNOS and downregulation of eNOS were detected in doxorubicin-treated cells using Western blotting. Insignificant iNOS expression was observed in all of the groups, and it was particularly low in the control and drug combination groups. NO production was also found to be significantly high after docetaxel treatment, and cell proliferation decreased after doxorubicin treatment. In conclusion, chemotherapy influences NOS activity differently with the presence of different drugs. The results with iNOS show that doxorubicin is a more effective drug than docetaxel, and a drug combination may play a helpful role in the suppression of tumorigenicity and cancer metastasis. Interestingly, eNOS expression increased after the addition of both docetaxel and the drug combination, and it was found to negatively correlate with the histological grade of the tumor. Therefore, analyzing the expression of both iNOS and eNOS might be very useful for targeting the treatment of breast carcinoma and obtaining better information on prognosis.

Role of Intercellular Communications in Breast Cancer Multicellular Tumor Spheroids After Chemotherapy

Tumor heterogeneity is an important feature that is especially involved in tumor aggressiveness. Multicellular tumor spheroids (MTS) may provide some benefits in different steps for investigation of the aggregation, organization, differentiation, and network formation of tumor cells in 3D space. This model offers a unique opportunity for improvements in the capability of a current strategy to detect the effect of an appropriate anticancer agent. The aim of this study was to investigate the cellular interactions and morphological changes following chemotherapy in a 3D breast cancer spheroid model. Distribution of the gap junction protein "connexin-43" and the tight junction protein "occludin" was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Cellular interactions were examined by using transmission and scanning electron microscopies as well as light microscopy with Giemsa staining after treating cells with doxorubicin, docetaxel, and doxorubicin/docetaxel combination. Statistical analyses showed significant changes and various alterations that were observed in all groups; however, the most prominent effect was detected in the doxorubicin/docetaxel combination group. Distinct composition as a vessel-like structure and a pseudoglandular pattern of control spheroids were detected in drug-administered groups. Immunohistochemical results were consistent with the ultrastructural changes. In conclusion, doxorubicin/docetaxel combination may be more effective than the single drug usage as shown in a 3D model. The MTS model has been found to be an appropriate and reliable method for the detection of the changes in the expression of cellular junction proteins as well as other cellular proteins occurring after chemotherapy. The MTS model can be used to validate the effects of various combinations or new chemotherapeutic agents as well as documentation of possible mechanisms of new drugs.

Effect of apoptosis and response of extracellular matrix proteins after chemotherapy application on human breast cancer cell spheroids

Multicellular tumor spheroid (MTS) represents a three-dimensional structural form of tumors in laboratory conditions, and it has the characteristics of avascular micrometastases or intervascular spaces of big tumors. Recent studies indicate that extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins play a critical role in tumor metastasis, therefore normal and cancer cells require an ECM for survival, proliferation and differentiation. Doxorubicin and Docetaxel are widely used in the therapy of breast cancer, as well as in in vivo and in vitro studies. In this study, we examined the effect of apoptosis and proliferation of cells on the human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, by using p53, bcl-2 and Ki67 gene expression, and the tendency to metastasis with extracellular matrix proteins, laminin and type IV collagen after chemotherapy in the spheroid model. The apoptotic cell death in situ was detected by TUNEL method. TUNEL-positive cells and positive immunoreactivities of laminin, type IV collagen, p53 and, bcl-2 were detected in the control group. There was no laminin and type IV collagen immunoreactivities in spheroids of drug groups. While TUNEL-positive cells and p53 immunoreactivity were detected in Docetaxel, Doxorubicin and Docetaxel/Doxorubicin groups, p53 immunoreactivity was not observed in the Docetaxel group. There was no bcl-2 immunoreactivity in either drug group. In addition, we did not detect Ki67 immunoreactivity in both control and drug treatment groups. However, the absence of Ki67 protein in MCF-7 breast multicellular tumor spheroids is possibly related to the cells in G0 or S phase. These chemotherapeutic agents may affect the presence of ECM proteins in this in vitro model of micrometastasis of spheroids. These findings suggest that the possible mechanism of cell death in Doxorubicin and Docetaxel/Doxorubicin treatment groups is related to apoptosis through the p53 pathway. However, we considered the possibility that there is another control mechanism for the Docetaxel group.

Acetaminophen and DMSO modulate growth and gemcitabine cytotoxicity in FM3A breast cancer cells in vitro

Addition of antioxidants to chemotherapy is an unresolved problem in oncology. It is still an issue of debate, whether antioxidants may reduce rough cellular toxicity and thereby the systemic side effects of the chemotherapy, without sacrificing the anti-tumor efficacy. Gemcitabine is a rather new anti-cancer agent, which is quite potent against a range of drug resistant tumors, particularly breast cancer. Tumor-sensitivity towards gemcitabine can be increased with COX inhibitory anti-inflammatory agents and ribonucleotide reductase (RR) inhibitor flavopiridol. Acetaminophen and DMSO are two unique anti-inflammatory and anti- oxidant agents with unrelated structures, yet both capable to block RR and COX, simultaneously. Using plating efficacy and 3H- thymidine labeling, we monitored efficacy of acetaminophen and DMSO to modulate growth and gemcitabine sensitivity in FM3A breast tumor cells, which is highly used to study thymineless death induced by nucleotide-metabolism hemming drugs. Peculiarly, acetaminophen alone stimulated S-phase, which was not accompanied with enhanced plating, rather resulting in 40.3% growth inhibition at the 96 hour. DMSO alone significantly diminished both the plating and S-phase, which resulted in 71.7% growth inhibition at the 96 hour. Gemcitabine drastically reduced S-phase and plating until 72 hours, yet at 96 hours it lost its efficacy to suppress the S-phase with concomitant 2-fold rise in cell numbers in comparison to 72 hour time point. Both DMSO and acetaminophen brought S-phase to around zero percent in combination with gemcitabine until 48 hours, yet they both reduced early cytotoxicity of gemcitabine at the same time interval. However, at the 96 hour, they both strongly augmented gemcitabine efficacy to block S-phase and prevented the rise in plating. Acetaminophen and DMSO should be tested in animal models, whether they could augment efficacy and reduce the toxicity of gemcitabine.

The effect of intrathecal medetomidine on small bowel transit in the rat

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Gastrointestinal motility is influenced by abdominal trauma, laparotomy and particularly by intestinal ischaemia. The reflex inhibition of gastrointestinal motility is mediated mainly by the sympathetic nervous system. There are reports on the effects of systemically applied alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists on gastric emptying and recovery of bowel motility, but the effect of spinally applied alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists on intestinal motility has not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intrathecal medetomidine on gastrointestinal transit in rats after transient intestinal ischaemia.

METHODS

Forty rats were randomly assigned to four groups of 10 each. Intrathecal catheter insertion and laparotomy were performed on each rat. Saline (10 microL) was injected intrathecally in Groups A and B. Medetomidine (10 microg in 10 microL) was injected intrathecally in Groups C and D. Intestinal ischaemia was induced in Groups B and D. Gastrointestinal transit was determined by measuring the length that a standardized marker meal of activated charcoal had travelled. Intrathecal medetomidine was compared to intrathecal saline in their effect on intestinal motility after 30 min period of bowel ischaemia.

RESULTS

Laparotomy and intestinal ischaemia slowed gastrointestinal transit. Intrathecal medetomidine accelerated transit in both ischaemia and non-ischaemia groups.

CONCLUSION

Intrathecal medetomidine markedly accelerated small intestinal transit and may also hasten the recovery from post-ischaemic paralytic ileus.

Autophagy and nuclear changes in FM3A breast tumor cells after epirubicin, medroxyprogesterone and tamoxifen treatment in vitro

OBJECTIVE

Autophagy is a form of physiological programmed cell death which is observable after hormonal withdrawal. In this study, the FM3A murine breast tumor cell line was treated with epirubicin alone and with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) or tamoxifen, to determine if structural and kinetic signs of autophagy may also occur in an enhanced manner during epirubicin sensitization via hormonal agents.

METHODS

One-week soft agar colony growth, 96-hour values of plating and pulse thymidine labeling and electron microscopical examinations were performed following treatment with MPA and tamoxifen alone or with epirubicin.

RESULTS

Tamoxifen induced signs of autophagy, which was enhanced when it was combined with MPA. Epirubicin also induced autophagy of secretory granules, which coalesced to form an intracytoplasmic lumen. Combining MPA with epirubicin enhanced the formation of apoptotic blebs and chromatin fragmentation. When epirubicin was combined with tamoxifen, peculiar nuclear structures were formed.

CONCLUSIONS

Hormonal agents may modulate anthracycline activity towards specific patterns in eliciting cell death, via autophagy and/or as yet unknown nucleolus-specific interactions.

Acetaminophen modulations of chemotherapy efficacy in MDAH 2774 human endometrioid ovarian cancer cells in vitro

Epidemiological data have correlated consumption of nonsteroidal antinflammatory drugs with lowered risk for many types of cancer, and some recent studies indicate a reverse correlation with acetaminophen consumption and ovarian malignancy. In this study we examined effects of acetaminophen on plating, S-phase and colony growth of MDAH 2774 human endometrioid ovarian carcinoma, as well as sensitivity of this cell line to carboplatin in all three tests, and paclitaxel to clonogenic assay. Acetaminophen significantly enhanced S-phase in first 72 hours and enhanced cell population in 96 hours of plating monitorization, but decreased one week colony growth by approximately 80%, which was in the range of cytotoxic drugs. Interestingly with low dose carboplatin in first 72 hours acetaminophen enhanced cell proliferation more profoundly, but only thereafter decreased cell growth synergistically with carboplatin. It did not effect paclitaxel colony growth inhibiting acitivity. MDAH-2774 cell line lack p-53 and MSH-2, which are both 'gatekeeper' apoptosis inducing genes against genome damaging insult. Thus, presence of lower doses of oxidizing drugs may help the induction of proliferative signals, but only their sustained presence may overcome such signals and ultimately bring to cell demise.

Vascularization pattern of C6 glioma is modified with medroxyprogesterone acetate and ibuprofen in Wistar rat brain

Beneficial effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) in cancer therapy is partly mediated via its antiangiogenic activity. The same is true for the antitumoral action of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs. We have studied two liposoluble drugs, MPA and the analgesic ibuprofen, on glioma vascularization in vivo. In this study we have shown that, until the sacrifice at 27. day after tumor inoculation in the right hemisphere, MPA had a slight though insignificant activity to reduce the fatality of C6 glioma, growing in right cerebral hemisphere of male Wistar rats. But ibuprofen both alone or with MPA had no effect on survival with gavage application of a 30 mg/kg/day dosing regime. On histological analysis, intra- and peritumoral vessels were counted. Progesterone seemed to lower intratumoral, but to increase peritumoral vessels, especially glomeruloids, around the tumor mass. Coadministration of ibuprofen acted to suppress the peritumoral vessel increase, and to enhance lymphomonocytic infiltration around tumor vessels.

Thymidine labeling index in epithelial ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to determine the thymidine labeling index and its prognostic role in patients with ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Tumor cell proliferation in 32 patients with primary ovarian cancer admitted to Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, between 1993 and 1997 was investigated using the [3H]thymidine labeling index (TLI). TLI results were compared with other clinical and histopathologic prognostic parameters.

RESULTS

The mean and median TLI values of the patients were 9.3+/-6.2% and 9.20% (range: 0.4-23.0%), respectively. Sixteen patients showed high proliferation rates (mean TLI: 14.3%). These patients had an overall survival rate of 46.7% at 3 years. The mean TLI level and overall survival at 3 years in the low proliferation rate group were 4.4 and 68.8%, respectively. Patients with a high TLI had a significantly shorter survival compared to those with a low TLI (P<0.01). There was tendency towards a higher TLI with advanced stage (P>0.05). However, there was no statistically significant correlation between TLI and other prognostic parameters.

CONCLUSION

TLI may have a predictive value in determining the outcome of patients with ovarian cancer. Further larger scale studies are needed before definite conclusions can be made about its role as a prognostic factor in this disease.

Medroxyprogesterone acetate alone or synergistic with chemotherapy suppresses colony formation and DNA synthesis in C6 glioma in vitro

We have studied the effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on C6 glioma growth in vitro in order to prove the hypothesis that it could arrest growth and induce drug sensitisation in a glial tumour as it does in breast cancer cells. Plating, thymidine-labelling index, ultra-structure, and soft agar colony growth were determined after incubation with MPA, and/or cisplatin, procarbazine and methotrexate (MTX). MPA (microg/ml) reduced the thymidine-labelling index by 41 and 73% at 48 and 96 h, respectively, and decreased colony growth by 61%. Soft agar colony inhibition by MPA was almost as potent as MTX (0.3 microg/ml), but the latter drug showed very high cytotoxicity. Electron microscopy revealed that in medroxyprogesterone treated cells myeloid bodies developed, but MTX treatment caused mainly necrosis. Medroxyprogesterone increased procarbazine and cisplatin-induced colony growth and S-phase inhibition, but reduced MTX-induced thymidine-labelling inhibition. In conclusion, progesterone may inhibit growth and sensitize to drugs.

Biological considerations in locally advanced breast cancer treated with anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy: thymidine labelling index is an independent indicator of clinical outcome

The present retrospective study aims to determine the clinical value of thymidine labelling index (TLI) together with other established clinical and biological factors in 116 locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients treated with anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. TLI was determined in 71 LABC patients with a median of 2.62% (0-23.64%) and a mean of 4.71% +/- 5.54. As a result of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 85 patients (73%) responded to chemotherapy (CT), whereas 31 patients were unresponsive (27%). No relationship has been found between the pretreatment biological variables including TLI, estrogen receptor (ER), progesteron receptor (PgR) status and clinical parameters such as the chemotherapy response rates and axillary lymph node involvement following chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 35 months (18-97 months) and the 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) rates were 71.6% and 52.2%, respectively. In univariate analysis, patients with inflammatory breast cancer, high TLI-index (> or = 2.62%), lymph node (LN) positivity or > 3 positive lymph nodes following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and without any response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy were found to have worse DFS and OS-rates and high local and systemic recurrence rates. In multivariate analysis, TLI was estimated as the most powerful independent factor affecting the OS in LABC patients among the other established clinical and biological parameters (p = 0.02). These results suggest that TLI is an important independent indicator of clinical outcome in patients with LABC and these patients with high TLI levels require more effective treatment modalities.

Deflazacort treatment in progressive diaphyseal dysplasia (Camurati-Engelmann disease)

Progressive diaphyseal dysplasia (PDD), a rare disorder of bones, in recent years has been accepted as a systemic disease within the spectrum of connective tissue disorders associated with immunological abnormalities. Steroids have been used in the treatment of PDD with variable success. In this report PDD is described in a 5-year-old boy who presented with leg pain, fatigue, headache and anorexia with an onset in infancy. Physical examination revealed a waddling gait, thorax deformity and thickening in the upper extremities. The diagnosis was made by radiologic demonstration of cortical thickening and a narrowed medullary cavity of the long bones of extremities. Bone scintigraphy showed areas of increased osteoblastic activity in the diaphyseal part of the long bones of extremities and the skull. Electron microscopic examination revealed myopathic and vascular changes. Serum immunoglobulin A, G and M levels were elevated and CD4 positive T cell numbers were low. Deflazacort, a steroid with a similar anti-inflammatory effect to prednisolone but with fewer adverse effects, was started in a dose of 1.2 mg/kg/day. Deflazacort treatment resulted in clinical and radiological improvement within 12 months with no side effects. In conclusion, steroids may be recommended as an effective method of treatment in PDD and deflazacort may be a safe alternative steroid.

Suppression of atherogenesis by n-3 fatty acids in the cholesterol-fed rabbit

The effects of n-3 fatty-acid supplementation on serum lipids, platelet aggregation, and the development of atherosclerotic lesions were studied in the cholesterol-fed rabbit. Serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol values were significantly reduced in comparison with those of the nonsupplemented cholesterol-fed group (p less than 0.005, p less than 0.0025, respectively), though still higher than those of the control group (p less than 0.0025, p less than 0.0125 respectively). Platelet aggregation was reduced below that of the cholesterol-fed and the control levels (p less than 0.0005, p less than 0.0025, respectively). The endothelial injury encountered in cholesterol-fed rabbits was inhibited in the supplemented group. It is concluded that n-3 fatty acids suppress atherogenesis in this animal model by interfering with platelet aggregation and lipid metabolism.